Ajuga plant named ‘Binparcol’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Ajuga  named ‘BINPARCOL’ that is characterized by compact mat-forming habit, multi-color foliage, and light blue flowers. In combination these traits set ‘BINPARCOL’ apart from all other existing varieties of  Ajuga  known to the inventor.

Genus: Ajuga.

Species: reptans.

Denomination: ‘BINPARCOL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new variety of bugle grown for use incontainer, rock garden, and as a small-scale groundcover for thelandscape. The new invention from the family Labiateae is knownbotanically as Ajuga reptans and will be referred to hereinafter as‘BINPARCOL’.

The new cultivar named ‘BINPARCOL’ has resulted from a breeding programestablished at the inventor's nursery in West Sussex, United Kingdom, in2004. The aim of the breeding program is to produce new and improvedvarieties of Ajuga which are robust in cultivation and colorful in thelandscape. In particular, the inventor wished to develop new varietieswhich are consistent with the robust qualities of the inventor's Ajugavariety, Ajuga ‘Black Scallop’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,815). Thus thecriteria for selection include foliage interest through pronounced andcontrasting leaf coloration, and broader, glossier and thicker leaveswhich confer robustness, tolerance to high temperatures and lightintensity, and resistance to powdery mildew attack.

‘BINPARCOL’ was selected by the inventor in 2006 from a variablepopulation of vegetatively propagated plants of Ajuga ‘Burgundy Glow’(unpatented). ‘Burgundy Glow’ is a variegated variety which, due to itsvariegation, does not reproduce entirely true to type when asexuallyreproduced, especially using tissue culture. Initially, seven uniquetissue culture explant clones of potential were isolated and subjectedto subsequent vegetative propagation and growing on in a range ofcontainer sizes, for repeated evaluation of overall appearance,robustness, distinctness, and uniformity. From these growing trials,‘BINPARCOL’ was selected as having the brightest multi-colored foliageand the most compact habit. Although ‘BINPARCOL’ has a constantlycreeping habit, its stems and branches have short internodes and growthextends by approximately 6-9 inches per year.

‘BINPARCOL’ exhibits compact, mat-forming habit, large, glossy, thickmulti-colored leaves, and light blue flowers that bloom in late summer.Cultural needs include full sun, moisture retentive soil, and moderatewater. ‘BINPARCOL’ exhibits resistance to powdery mildew, and is hardyto USDA Zone 3.

The pattern of foliage coloration is unique to this variety, and is bestillustrated by a series of drawings. The leaf exhibits color elements ofcream-white around the edges, grey-green in the body of the leaf, androse-red in centers. A portion of individual leaves are entirelysuffused by rose-pink color. Overall the foliage is brighter, withrounder, thicker leaves.

‘BINPARCOL’ is distinguishable from all other Ajuga known to theinventor. The closest comparison plant is the parent plant Ajuga‘Burgundy Glow’. The new variety ‘BINPARCOL’ is distinguishable from‘Burgundy Glow’ by larger, round, thicker leaves, and brighter foliagecolor with prominent contrasting cream-white leaf edges.

The first asexual reproduction of ‘BINPARCOL’ occurred in 2006 and wasaccomplished at the inventor's nursery in West Sussex, United Kingdom.Asexual propagation was carried out by the inventor using the method ofstem cuttings. Since that time under careful observation ‘BINPARCOL’ hasbeen determined fixed, stable and true to type in subsequent generationsof asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thedistinguishing characteristics of the new Ajuga cultivar named‘BINPARCOL’. These traits in combination distinguish ‘BINPARCOL’ fromall other existing varieties of Ajuga known to the inventor. ‘BINPARCOL’has not been tested under all possible conditions. Phenotypicdifferences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic,and cultural conditions without however any variance in genotype.

-   -   1. ‘BINPARCOL’ exhibits compact mat-forming habit.    -   2. The stems and branches of ‘BINPARCOL’ are comprised of short        internodes and the rate of stem growth is approximately 6 inches        per year.    -   3. ‘BINPARCOL’ reaches a maximum height of 200 mm.    -   4. ‘BINPARCOL’ exhibits multi-colored leaves that are        cream-white, grey-green and rose-red in color.    -   5. Individual leaves on ‘BINPARCOL’ are entirely suffused by        rose-pink color.    -   6. ‘BINPARCOL’ exhibits light blue flowers which bloom in late        summer.    -   7. ‘BINPARCOL’ is hardy to USDA Zone 3.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color drawings illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Ajuga cultivar named ‘BINPARCOL’ showing color as true as isreasonably possible to obtain in color reproductions of this type. Colorin the drawings may differ from color values cited in the detailedbotanical description, which accurately describe the actual color of thenew variety ‘BINPARCOL’.

Drawing labeled FIG. 1 depicts the plant from a side perspectiveillustrating the multi-color foliage.

Drawing labeled FIG. 2 depicts the flower.

Drawings were made using conventional techniques and although flower andfoliage color may appear different from actual color due to lightreflectance, they are as accurate as possible by conventionalphotography.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of the new Ajugacultivar named ‘BINPARCOL’. Observations, measurements, values andcomparisons were collected in Arroyo Grande, Calif. from 9-month-oldplants in 1-liter containers. Color determinations are made inaccordance with the 2001 Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart fromLondon, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used. The growing requirements of the new variety‘BINPARCOL’ are similar to the species.

-   Botanical classification: Ajuga reptans ‘BINPARCOL’.-   Family: Labiateae.-   Genus: Ajuga.-   Species: reptans.-   Denomination: ‘BINPARCOL’.-   Common name: Bugle.-   Habit: Compact mat-forming.-   Commercial category: Perennial herb.-   Use: Container, rock garden, and small-scale groundcover for the    landscape.-   Suggested commercial container size: 1-liter container.-   Parentage: Ajuga reptans ‘BINPARCOL’ is a clonal selection resulting    from a formal breeding program. The sole parent is Ajuga ‘Burgundy    Glow’ (unpatented).-   Propagation method: Methods of tip cuttings, and division.-   Rooting system: Fine.-   Vigor (range): Low to moderate.-   Crop time (range): 9-12 months to produce a 1-liter container from    stem cuttings.-   Temperature (range): The recommended air temperature is 20-21°    Centigrade.-   Plant dimensions (at maturity): A maximum of 200 mm. in height and    creeping to an indefinite width.-   Cultural requirements: Grow in moisture retentive soil, full sun,    with moderate water.-   Pest or disease resistance: Resistant to mildew.-   Hardiness: USDA Zone 3.-   Stem:    -   -   Shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Surface.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—146C.        -   Stem length (average).—10 cm.        -   Stem diameter (average).—3 mm.        -   Internode (average).—1.40 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Type.—Evergreen.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf margin (range).—Crenate.        -   Leaf surface (abaxial).—Puberulent and rugose.        -   Leaf surface (adaxial).—Glabrous and rugose.        -   Leaf appearance.—Glossy.        -   Leaf shape.—Reniform.        -   Leaf length (average).—3.50 cm.        -   Leaf width (average).—4 cm.        -   Leaf color (abaxial surface).—182C, N138C and 161D are all            individually present.        -   Leaf color (adaxial surface).—182A, 185B, N138C and 158A are            all individually present.        -   Leaf apex.—Obtuse.        -   Leaf base.—Cordate.        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Vein color (abaxial and adaxial surfaces).—N138B.        -   Attachment (range).—Petiolate to clasping.        -   Petiole shape.—Sulcate.        -   Petiole surface.—Glabrous.        -   Petiole color.—N138B.        -   Petiole dimensions.—0.60 cm. in length and 0.25 cm. in            width.        -   Leaf fragrance.—Scented when bruised.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Inflorescence.—Spike.        -   Inflorescence dimensions.—3.50 cm. in length and 2.50 cm in            width.        -   Flower quantity (range).—10-14 per inflorescence.        -   Bract (average).—16 per inflorescence.        -   Bract arrangement.—Whorled.        -   Bract attachment.—Sessile.        -   Bract shape (range).—Ovate to reniform.        -   Bract apex.—Acute.        -   Bract margin.—Entire.        -   Peduncle shape.—Tetragonal.        -   Peduncle surface.—Villous.        -   Peduncle strength.—Strong.        -   Peduncle color.—N187B.        -   Peduncle dimensions (average).—3.25 cm. in height and 4 mm.            in width.        -   Bud shape.—Globose.        -   Bud color.—N187B.        -   Bud surface.—Villous.        -   Bud dimensions.—2.50 mm. in length and 2.50 mm. in width.        -   Flower shape.—Tubular.        -   Flower color (ventral and dorsal surface)—94A, 94B, 94C, 94D            are all individually present.        -   Flower dimensions.—9 mm. in depth and 7 mm. in width.        -   Flower surface (dorsal).—Villous.        -   Corolla tube depth.—7 mm.        -   Corolla tube width.—2.75 mm.        -   Lips.—3 in number.        -   Lip color (adaxial and abaxial surfaces).—94A, 94B, 94C, 94D            are all individually present.        -   Lip margin.—Entire.        -   Lip surface (abaxial).—Villous.        -   Lip apex (range).—Rounded to emarginate.        -   Calyx shape.—Tubular.        -   Calyx surface (dorsal).—Villous.        -   Sepals.—5 in number.        -   Sepals fused or unfused.—Fused.        -   Sepal color.—189B.        -   Sepal margin.—Entire.        -   Sepal apex.—Acute.        -   Sepal surface (abaxial).—Villous.        -   Inflorescence fragrance.—None observed.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamen quantity.—4 in number.        -   Stamen length.—7 mm.        -   Stamen color.—155A.        -   Anther color.—N186A.        -   Anther length.—<1 mm.        -   Pollen amount.—Low.        -   Pollen color.—162A.        -   Pistil quantity.—1 in number.        -   Pistil length.—9 mm.        -   Pistil color.—155A.        -   Ovary position.—Superior.        -   Ovary shape.—Globose.        -   Ovary dimensions.—1 mm. in height and 1 mm. in diameter.        -   Ovary color.—144A.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ajuga plant named ‘BINPARCOL’ asdescribed and illustrated herein.